I recently acquired a new to me snipe sailboat that was born 10 years before me. Its a 1964 Snipe. When I bought it I asked the guy about some soft spots on the deck, he assured me since there was no wood on the boat, it couldn't be dry rot etc. I should mention my goal generally is to get the boat out on the water so I can learn to sail.
After getting the boat home, and on closer inspection I discovered the snipe was constructed of foam sandwiched between thin pieces of fiberglass. In two areas the bottom piece of fiberglass (I believe its fiberglass anyway) had separated from the side of the hull, allowing the foam to sag and depriving the deck of needed structural support. The one is the deck near the bow which isn't too bad, but more pressing is under the "seat" on the edge of the deck. Here is a poor drawing I made of the problem as well as a photo of where on the deck you would find the problem. It would be located under the guys butt in the second photo.
When getting under the deck I can clearly see where it came off, but there is very little material (the flat part at the far right side of my drawing just below the arrow) where I could apply some sort of epoxy to "restick" it to the side with any hope of it being structurally sound. The angle where the deck meets the hull is also more severe than in my drawing. I can fit my fingers up in there but can't really see what I'm doing. In order to get the two to meet I could get a piece of 2X4 and a couple of car jacks to support it along the roughly 6' linear feet that needs to be reattached while doing the work....
Things I have considered:
1) overlapping some sort of material on the underside of the hanging material, epoxying that to the underside of the deck and down along the side. This would be the most like the original design but least structurally sound as the area of the deck it can reattach to is about 1"-2" wide. The fact I'm doing this down 6' might help though.
2) doing # 1 but then adding a 3" strip of marine grade plywood expoxied to the inside of the hull directly under the material to reinforce the foam and support my butt. More structurally sound but still replies on glue.
3) adding a strip of marine grade plywood horizontally under the foam, dropping 3-4 stainless carriage bolts and washers through the deck seat, foam and plywood and bolting it from below. Then adding the wood under it in option #2. This would put holes in the deck, be uncomfortable to sit on, look terrible, but probably be the most structurally sound.
While being mechanically inclined I should mention I have no experience working with fiberglass, but with some safety glasses and a respirator and willing to try anything. Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated, since now I am now doubting the wisdom of my purchase.
Cheers!
After getting the boat home, and on closer inspection I discovered the snipe was constructed of foam sandwiched between thin pieces of fiberglass. In two areas the bottom piece of fiberglass (I believe its fiberglass anyway) had separated from the side of the hull, allowing the foam to sag and depriving the deck of needed structural support. The one is the deck near the bow which isn't too bad, but more pressing is under the "seat" on the edge of the deck. Here is a poor drawing I made of the problem as well as a photo of where on the deck you would find the problem. It would be located under the guys butt in the second photo.
When getting under the deck I can clearly see where it came off, but there is very little material (the flat part at the far right side of my drawing just below the arrow) where I could apply some sort of epoxy to "restick" it to the side with any hope of it being structurally sound. The angle where the deck meets the hull is also more severe than in my drawing. I can fit my fingers up in there but can't really see what I'm doing. In order to get the two to meet I could get a piece of 2X4 and a couple of car jacks to support it along the roughly 6' linear feet that needs to be reattached while doing the work....
Things I have considered:
1) overlapping some sort of material on the underside of the hanging material, epoxying that to the underside of the deck and down along the side. This would be the most like the original design but least structurally sound as the area of the deck it can reattach to is about 1"-2" wide. The fact I'm doing this down 6' might help though.
2) doing # 1 but then adding a 3" strip of marine grade plywood expoxied to the inside of the hull directly under the material to reinforce the foam and support my butt. More structurally sound but still replies on glue.
3) adding a strip of marine grade plywood horizontally under the foam, dropping 3-4 stainless carriage bolts and washers through the deck seat, foam and plywood and bolting it from below. Then adding the wood under it in option #2. This would put holes in the deck, be uncomfortable to sit on, look terrible, but probably be the most structurally sound.
While being mechanically inclined I should mention I have no experience working with fiberglass, but with some safety glasses and a respirator and willing to try anything. Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated, since now I am now doubting the wisdom of my purchase.
Cheers!
